The highly dreaded leader of the Islamic sect,Boko Haram, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, hasreportedly been shot and deposed by aggrieved members of the sect who are close to him.

“The be-headings, the killings, therecent death of students …this is not the way of the Holy Quran. We could tolerate it no longer ."

Consequently, a new leader has been appointedfor the sect:The new leader, Abu Zamira Mohammed, who isthe sect’s leader negotiating with the federalgovernment was unanimously chosen by thegroup’s Shura Council.

The group also said that its ceasefiredeclaration is working, pointing out that therehas not been any suicide bombing since thedeclaration. It condemned the Yobe massacrewhere 40 students were killed.

According to report, they said some politiciansnow commit murder and ascribe it to BokoHaram.

On the Kano blasts last Monday, which led tothe death of about 45 people, the groupblamed it on federal government’s tardiness inresponding to the ceasefire agreement.A joint report published on Thursday by Dr.Stephen Davis, a conflict resolution expertand an adviser to the last three NigerianPresidents and Phillip van Niekerk, Presidentof Calabar Africa, a strategic advisory company focusing on Africa, quoted one Imam Liman Ibrahim, spiritual leader of Boko Haram, as saying that the change in leadership was prelude to peace negotiations with federal government.

Recall that a faction of Boko Haram enteredinto a back-channel dialogue with thegovernment in the search for peace to aconflict that has seen multiple suicidebombings, attacks on public buildings andchurches, and has claimed thousands of livessince 2011.

On why they decided to go against Shekau:Imam Liman Ibrahim, spiritual leader of BokoHaram, explained that the teaching of Shekauwas becoming increasingly harsh and began todepart from the Holy Quran. “It was harsh,harsh, harsh,” Imam Liman said when explainingthe reasons for the change of leadership.

“Imam Liman explained that Shekau was givena choice of joining the peace dialogue with thegovernment, forming his own sect or bekilled. Several senior Boko Haram commanders including Shekau’s Chief of Security and personal bodyguard, Abdullahi Hassan, haveclaimed that Shekau has since been shot in thelower leg, thigh and shoulder ,” a report said.

The report further added that, "Shekau’sexact fate is not known. [But] a video cliprecovered from a Boko Haram camp in theSambisa Forest Reserve in the northeastNigeria, raided by the military on May16, shows Shekau limping, providingconfirmation of reports he had been shot.

“However, Shekau has been noticeably absentfrom recent public statements... It had beenpresumed that Shekau chose to voluntarilyleave peace discussions in the hands of BokoHaram’s leadership group.”

The JAS leadership were quoted as citing theQuran as their inspiration for seeking peace.“ In the Holy Quran, Sura At Tauba: Wa-injanahuu-Lisalmi Faji Nahlahaa, we areencouraged to seek peace. The Holy Quranalso tells us it is good to negotiate. Sura AtNisa Ayih: Wa-sulhu Haira.”

The report said “Boko Haram leadership hasappointed Abubakar Babasani Ibn Yusuf asspokesman to replace Zamirah. Babasani saysthe leadership has been consulting all seniorcommanders to assure compliance with theceasefire. He said commanders as far afieldas Niger, Chad, Sudan and Cameroon haveagreed to the ceasefire and discussions withthe Nigerian government on the subject of apeace deal.”

It would be recalled that Shekau launched aseries of well-planned assassinations andsuicide bombings that targeted Police Forceheadquarters, UN building and severalchurches in the Northern part of Nigeria.